Karim Janat is a 27‑year‑old Afghan batting all‑rounder, known for his right‑hand batting and right‑arm medium‑fast bowling. He has represented Afghanistan since 2016, with standout T20I performances including a 5/11 against West Indies in 2019 and a match‑winning 53 against Zimbabwe in 2021.
Personal & Career Overview
- Full Name: Karim Janat
- Born: 11 August 1998, Kabul, Afghanistan
- Age: 27 (as of April 2026)
- Role: Batting all‑rounder
- Batting Style: Right‑handed
- Bowling Style: Right‑arm medium‑fast
- Family: Younger brother of former Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan
International Career
- T20I Debut: 14 December 2016 vs UAE (Dubai) – scored 25 runs and took 3 wickets, earning Player of the Match.
- ODI Debut: 24 February 2017 vs Zimbabwe (Harare).
- Test Debut: 14 June 2023 vs Bangladesh (Dhaka).
- Recent Matches: Last Test in Feb 2024 vs Ireland; last ODI in Sept 2023 vs Sri Lanka; last T20I in Dec 2024 vs Zimbabwe.
Key Highlights
- 2019 (Lucknow): 5/11 vs West Indies – career‑best bowling figures.
- 2021 (Abu Dhabi): Match‑winning 53 vs Zimbabwe.
- 2021 T20 World Cup: Unbeaten 42 vs India.
- 2023: Returned to form with back‑to‑back fifties vs UAE.
Karim Janat Statistics
| Format | Matches | Runs | Bat Avg | Wickets | Bowl Avg | Best Bowling | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 2 | 95 | 31.66 | 0 | – | – | |
| ODIs | 3 | 32 | 10.66 | 0 | – | – | |
| T20Is | 75 | 759 | 16.86 | 42 | 27.64 | 5/11 | |
| First‑Class | 25 | 1,906 | 52.94 | 73 | 34.32 | 4/50 | |
| T20 (overall) | 182 | 2,846 | 22.76 | 126 | 28.86 | 5/11 |
Franchise & Domestic Career
- Afghanistan Domestic: Speen Ghar Region, Band‑e‑Amir Region, Kabul Eagles.
- Franchise Leagues:
- IPL 2025: Signed by Gujarat Titans (INR 75 lakh); played 1 match, conceding 30 runs in an over.
- Bangladesh Premier League: Comilla Victorians, Sylhet Sunrisers, Fortune Barishal.
- Lanka Premier League: Colombo Stars.
- ILT20: Gulf Giants.
- Global T20 Canada: Surrey Jaguars.
- SA20: MI Cape Town.
Challenges & Trade‑offs
- Test/ODI struggles: No wickets in Tests or ODIs despite opportunities.
- IPL setback: An expensive over in the debut match dented his reputation in India.
- Strength remains T20 cricket: Proven match‑winner in shorter formats, but consistency is key.
Takeaway
Karim Janat is Afghanistan’s versatile T20 specialist, capable of explosive batting and impactful bowling spells. While his longer‑format record is modest, his franchise experience across leagues (IPL, BPL, LPL, ILT20, SA20) and international highlights make him a valuable short‑format all‑rounder.
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